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Did you feel earthquake this afternoon?

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by Matt Oliver, Reporter covering North Oxford, Jericho and Summertown. Call me on 01865 425498

AN earthquake in the South West this afternoon was likely to have been felt in Oxfordshire, an expert has said.

The 4.1 magnitude tremor occurred at 1.21pm for several seconds at a depth of 5km in the Bristol channel; about 10 miles north of Ilfracombe.

It was felt by people in Swindon and seismologist Dr Richard Luckett, of the British Geographical Survey, said that it was also “quite likely” it had been felt in parts of Southwest Oxfordshire as well.

He said: “We get an earthquake like this every two or three years in the UK, but this is the first to happen under the Bristol Channel in quite a while.

“The last one like this I can think of was Folkestone, which also measured at about 4.1. That was felt as far west as Southampton.

“It depends what type of earthquake it was, but it is quite likely that there will be people in Oxfordshire who felt something.

“We will get more reports in very soon.”

A map from the British Geological Survey of the location of the tremor

If you felt the tremor, you can tell scientists at the British Geographical Survey by filling in a short questionnaire at quakes.bgs.ac.uk and get in touch with Oxford Mail reporter Matt Oliver on 01865 425498.